Ok i am guessing like myself many times, seeing the thread title is a yawn. It was one of my pressies and i am blown away ! I have read and own several books and films that turns to this crossroads but this Documentary/Whatever is quite,as i said........im blown away. I have many questions,where will i begin Frazier helped out Ali cash wise at times according to the docu,true he could do today or yesterday for all we know, regarding the film i mean( who knows) I knew Frazier wanted Ali to get his license before watching but this doc explains a lot more. Ali had a game to play regarding his status when the fight got itself on but the disrespect was full on im sure for some ( many ways i see it as totally dogged, to the extent i question its nature is so hurtful that surely the receiver can see a worried opponent) Frazier should of laughed. I dont know how i can admire two fighters equally regardng there nature and personality long before the chosen profession,ones confidence and ones integrity equally,i dont know. I admire how Ali in some ways according to this documentary showed more than a fighting spirit,he shows that he will use whatever it takes.He bit the hand that supposedly fed him, i dont know,i only know what i read and watch..........i would love to hear some more inside things etc Joe wanted him and got him, he needed him i know but i admire how much he burned to get Ali for a fight, thats not common these days, but what a person and he is living upstairs in the gym still ? I wonder who is happier ? How many people now has Ali beaten with his mind before the fight ? He was hardcore on Fraziers ass media wise but he did what he needed to do. I have many questions etc,where do i begin,appreciate some insights similar or opinions. Thanks , Merry Xmas Classic Pardon the rant also,mama's trifle is still within me atsch:happy
It's on youtube: [YT]fODYeoHvH4I[/YT] [YT]fJrfebpo1bc[/YT] [YT]CUsy_LUlTvg[/YT] [YT]gMqtNK7C6U4[/YT] [YT]65S8lQl1-Vw[/YT] [YT]K8z1cOmVCb8[/YT] [YT]fSvBO-UcUp4[/YT] [YT]jNZUV6Sjk2U[/YT] [YT]wqy9bMhZNxM[/YT]
Cheers Ishy, as i said , i dont know where to begin, im used to books more than dvd etc. This blew me away. Silence
Its to bad that Frazier could not find more of a way to fight back with Ali's bullying. Wepner knew how to put Ali in his place.. when he tried his usual antics in an interview on a TV show together, Wepner ended up having Ali running scared before the interview was over. [YT]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HqpWoj8INs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HqpWoj8INs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YT] [YT]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hwcmZSDm2Vw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hwcmZSDm2Vw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YT] Frazier was obviously an ATG warrior but it bothers me that Frazier let himself be dominated in the mental aspects of their verbal exchanges.
Please tell me you don't think Ali was really running scared Both played it beautifully, pure comic TV.
Regarding Ali dominating the mental aspect of the verbal exchanges - it cost him nothing IMO. Probably helped if anything, the guys sheer determination and fantastic efforts against Ali are legendary. Frazier did his talking inside the ring.
Those back and forth's were all antics, but the point was Wepner didn't let him dominate the interview or spotlight, nor did he take his talk seriously. Ali pretty quickly saw that Wepner was not buying into his game, and that his bullying would not have any effect, and that Wepner was not going to let him go off on his own tangent, so he got out of there pretty quick. It could be understood that the racially charged remarks by Ali towards Frazier were taken to heart by him... I don't have the personal experience to call on in this regards so I won't try and pretend I can understand how deeply those kind of words cut with a man. Also, the documentary itself seemed hypocritical in one regard. Its focus on Frazier as a tragic figure struck me as overblown, and seemed to portray him in the very light it was condemning from Ali: That while he was a good fighter and good person, he was simple minded, at the mercy of the people and environment around him, and did not know how to represent himself. Irked me a bit.
Quite partial documentary, I would say. Only Frazier and his people are allowed to give their view, and what they chose to show of the first two fights... The highlights from FOTC is just about Frazier pummeling Ali, if you'd never seen it before you'd never believe that it was a competitive fight that was very punishing for Frazier as well as Ali. The second fight is only portraid in a couple of stills, and even though Ali's holding is talked about, no mention is made of how Ali had Frazier badly hurt when round 2 was cut short by the ref. No, I'm not impressed really.
